Patricia E. Says:
My husband and I love the beach, but I hate the heat. Which community in Costa Rica is at a higher altitude but would give us access to a beach?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi Particia,
Where I live in Tamarindo, the beaches are HOT, HOT, HOT. With the tropical life comes a lot of humidity most of the year on the beach.
But there are places in Costa Rica where you can get the best of both worlds—life by the beach without too much heat and humidity.
Here are two options you should consider:
First, Lake Arenal. It’s high-altitude, and although the lake isn’t really for swimming, you might enjoy the weather more and get your water fix at the same time.
At the lake, there’s not a real dry season. It rains enough that everything stays green throughout the year.
From Lake Arenal, you can get to the beach at Playa del Coco in about 2 hours and 15 minutes and to Playa Flamingo in about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
A second option is San Ramón in Alajuela. It’s about a 75-minute drive to reach Playa Dona Ana and just under two hours to get to Jacó. And it’s only 15 minutes away from the Juan Santamaría Airport.
San Ramón has all the amenities you can find in a city, including a cultural center and a few small museums. This community has concerts, exhibits, festivals, and plays throughout the year. It’s also a college town with a University of Costa Rica campus.
Costa Rica is known for its beaches, but as you can see, you don’t need to live right on the beach to enjoy them—especially if you’re not a fan of the heat.
Good luck!
Got a Question?
Send your thoughts to mailbag@internationalliving.com. We’ll post and respond to as many of your emails as we can right here in the e-letter.